Abandoned WWII medals traced to SD veteran

MINNEAPOLIS - The Silver Star and Purple Heart medals that were abandoned nearly two decades ago in a Minneapolis storage facility have been returned the nephew of the soldier they belonged to.

Earlier this year, the World War II medals were traced to Staff Sergeant Fred Baker of South Dakota, who was killed in action.

On Monday, Baker's great nephew was on hand as the medals were brought home.

"I think if the men were here, they'd say, 'They didn't do anything anybody else wouldn't have did.' I don't think the men would consider themselves heroes at all," said Mike Gehrke, the great-nephew of Baker.

Baker's medals will now be in display at the Brooking County Museum in Volga, South Dakota.

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